PARIS (Sept. 18, 2025) – Absolum, a modern evolution of beat ‘em ups that fuses classic brawling combat with rich storytelling and vast replayability, gained a new trailer today exploring the depth of its combat and how progression works within its rich, run-based fantasy adventure. Published and co-developed by Dotemu (Streets of Rage 4, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge) along with co-developers Guard Crush Games (Streets of Rage 4, Streets of Fury EX) and Supamonks, Absolum is playable solo or in two-player local or online co-op, and launches on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on Oct. 9. (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1904480/Absolum)
Trailer: https://youtu.be/w3zhPXKrv3M
Absolum’s overhaul of classic arcade beat ‘em up action is on full display in the trailer through the implementation of meta progression and build customization. Today’s new footage stars Absolum’s agile, sword-clad fighter Galandra, tank-like dwarf Karl, enigmatic rogue Cider and magically gifted Brome, the four playable warriors central to Absolum’s tale. Discovering the distinct advantages of each fighter reveals the full scope of combat possibilities in Absolum since each playable character carries their own unique skill set, as well as their own motivations, as they navigate a mysterious land filled with wonder and twisted cosmic horrors.
Carefully time your attacks to break the guards of enemies, punish their advance with a devastating super power attack and experiment with buffs like elemental magic to mix and match combat abilities to your liking. Treasures purchased at inns can also help recover from rough encounters or lend an upper hand for the battles ahead.
Trying a range of builds and shop items is key to reaching new areas in Absolum, including the land revealed through this trailer – a flourishing, verdant vista home to dangerous creatures like the nomadic canine humanoids known as Gnolls, and lorded over by a mighty, run-ending boss.
About Absolum
With branching pathways to explore, quests to discover, intriguing characters to encounter and a deep variety of challenging bosses in store, Absolum’s gripping fantasy tale unravels a compelling adventure channeling the spirit of classic brawlers like Golden Axe and Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara. Unlock items, quests and permanent warrior upgrades while exploring Absolum’s world through runs steeped in variety, excitement and challenge in a design that maximizes approachability and replayability.
Absolum features an engaging narrative with themes of foiling an unbridled, dictatorial power and cheating Death itself. In the world of Talamh, a cataclysmic event caused by magic prompts the Sun King Azra to conquer all lands and sources of magic through brutal warfare, slaughtering any wizard unwilling to serve him. Talamh’s hope now lies with a defiant band of rebels aided by a mysterious, mythical mentor known as Uchawi and the similarly powerful Root Sisters, who together oppose Azra’s pursuit of total power by wielding an ancient, forbidden magic. These mythical forces empower our rebels with astonishing magic as they stoke a resistance, fight Azra's iron grip on Talamh and discover the secret behind Azra’s ever-growing dominion.
Absolum introduces an engrossing universe and cast co-created with the masterful talent of animation studio Supamonks (Rabbids Invasion: Mission to Mars). Absolum blends arcade-like melee combat with spells, counters, upgradable abilities and uniquely powerful playable fighters, hosting a grand, high-stakes quest across an array of hand-crafted stages.
Dotemu, Guard Crush and Supamonks have created an original, refreshing reimagining of the depth and fun that beat ‘em up gameplay can provide. Absolum is backed by an original soundtrack composed by Gareth Coker (Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Halo Infinite) with collaborations from Mick Gordon (DOOM Eternal), Yuka Kitamura (Elden Ring) and Motoi Sakuraba (Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes).
To conjure the latest updates on Absolum, visit https://www.playabsolum.com/, follow @Dotemu and @Guard_Crush on X, @Supamonks on Instagram and wishlist the game on Steam via https://store.steampowered.com/app/1904480/Absolum.
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About Dotemu
Dotemu is a French video game company specializing in bringing back the best video games and legendary pop culture licenses on PC and modern consoles, to create experiences carefully crafted for fans around the world.
The Dotemu team has published and developed a number of global top-sellers across both PC and console including the award-winning games Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Streets of Rage 4, Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, other great development and publishing work from Dotemu includes Metal Slug Tactics, Windjammers 1 and 2, Pharaoh: A New Era and more. Dotemu is currently working on unannounced projects planned for 2025 and beyond.
Learn more at http://www.dotemu.com.
About Guard Crush Games
Guard Crush Games was founded in 2009 by Jordi Asensio and Cyrille Lagarigue based on their passion for classic beat-em-up and side-scrolling titles. The team is best known for its work on the acclaimed Streets of Rage 4. Prior to contributing to the brawling series’ smash hit return, they previously released Streets of Fury on Xbox 360 and a follow-up on PC, Streets of Fury: Extended Edition in 2015, which both revel in over-the-top action and capture the studio’s love for fun side-scrolling brawlers.
About Supamonks
Since 2007, the animation studio Supamonks has stood out in creating 2D and 3D content for cinema, television, and, of course, video games. With Absolum, the studio strengthens its key role in the industry by working closely with video game publishers and developers from defining the artistic direction to creating graphic assets and animations, all the way into the trailers' production.
About Kid Katana Records
Kid Katana is a record label specialized in video game music, connecting composers with fans through premium physical and digital soundtrack releases. Collaborating with the finest studios and publishers (DON’T NOD, Dotemu, Quantic Dream, KOEI TECMO, Nickelodeon, SEGA, Sloclap, SNK, KOEI TECMO…), the label pushes the boundaries of the genre. Its catalog includes critically-acclaimed OSTs such as Streets of Rage 4, TMNT Shredder's Revenge, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, Jusant, Metal Slug Tactics, V Rising and NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, and contributions from Mike Patton, Wu-Tang Clan, Chromatics, Hitomitoi, Tee Lopes, Yuzu Koshiro, Gareth Coker, Yuka Kitamura, Mick Gordon…
Follow Kid Katana Records releases and news at kidkatana.com